A snapshot of my 2020…the “normal” parts at least.
I’ll elaborate on some of it in later posts.

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, this has been quite a year, hasn’t it? I don’t know about you, but I am excited and slightly apprehensive to see the back side of it. I’m very ready for things to begin to be somewhat “normal” and more stable.  Yet, despite the upheaval and uncertainty of this past year, there has been good.

I have lived at my little place on the farm for a year now. I’ve been incredibly grateful for it, especially in light of all the “stay at home” time we’ve had. It was nice to have acres of outdoor space available to me during those times. As part of the remodelling of the outbuilding my home is attached to, my landlord created a private, paved patio area and a large storage closet for me. The patio turned out to be a real blessing. I was able to entertain friends and family on my patio in a “safe” manner over the summer. I was also able to try my hand at container gardening for the first time in about 15 years. I had some successes (zucchini and tomatoes) and failures (beans and cucumbers). My garden brought me much  joy. I learned a lot and am already planning my garden for next year. Now that the garden has wound down, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying birdwatching. I set up several feeders and regularly see sparrows, juncos, hummingbirds, chickadees, finches, towhees, jays, and a northern flicker. Ziva has been enjoying the added entertainment as well.  

Aside from a few new protocols, my job has been completely unaffected by the pandemic. I am very, very blessed in that regard. I still work for the same homecare agency. None of my patients or their families have been ill with COVID, thanks be to God. 

My health has also been good. This time last year, I sustained a minor injury to my right lower leg. It didn’t want to heal, so in January, I had a minor surgical procedure to open up and clean out what turned out to be a fairly severe, deep tissue injury. The next several months were filled with twice-weekly visits to a wound clinic to help heal the injury. As of August, it is fully healed. I have quite the scar from my ordeal, but I’m pleased that this was my only “health crisis” this year, especially in the light of the pandemic.I hope and pray that you are also well and that you are able to find Joy this holiday season despite it’s strangeness. Our celebrations might be different, but the one thing that remains the same is Emmanuel, God With Us, who’s birth we celebrate. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Now that is some “tidings of Comfort and Joy”!

Merry Christmas and a Brighter New Year!
Janet